Chemical weapons watchdog condemns chlorine use in Syria

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The global chemical weapons watchdog has condemned the use of chlorine as a weapon in Syria as a breach of international law and says those responsible should be brought to justice.

The executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on Wednesday expressed "serious concern" at a fact-finding mission's recent report that concluded "with a high degree of confidence" that chlorine was unleashed on three villages in northern Syria from April to August last year, killing 13 people.

The organization's director-general, Ahmet Uzumcu, said in a statement that the decision to condemn the chlorine use "makes it absolutely clear that chemical weapons are illegal, and that their use will not be tolerated under any circumstances."